Water Safety New Zealand chief executive Matt Claridge said the message to swimmers remained the same.

``Never swim alone, swim between the flags and if in doubt, stay out. That's the risk that people take if you want to swim outside the flags. You need to be a capable swimmer and possess some incredible survival skills, just in case.''

Ms Telfar's death comes almost a week after Te Puke man Bennett William James White, 26, died at Rogers Beach near Otamarakau. It is believed he crashed his motorbike on the sand and the tide came in and took his body out to sea.

Meanwhile the search continues for missing Katikati boatie, Tim Mair. He was swept away at Bowentown Heads after a wave capsized his boat last Monday